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5 SheetsSheet 1.

(N0 Modl.)

E. LAEMERHIRT.

STEAM HEATING APPARATUS.

No. 430,529. Patented June 17, 1890.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2. E. LAEM'ERHIRT.

STEAM HEATING APPARATUS.

No. 430,529. Patented-June 17, 1890.

fittest. Inven/for.

5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

B. LAEMERHIRT.

STEAM HEATING APPARATUS.

Patented June 17, 1890.

Inna A601.

fX/iuaa Jay (N0 Mod l.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

E. LAEMERHIRT.

STEAM HEATING APPARATUS.

No. 430,529. Patented Junel'z, 1890.

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ditty 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

(No Model.)

B. ,LAEMERHIRT.

STEAM HEATING APPARATUS.

No. 430,529. Patented June 17, 189(0.

Inventor.

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7 UNITED STATES PATENT EEIcE.

EMIL LAEMERHIRT, OF BERLIN, GERMANY.

STEAM-HEATING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 430,529, dated June 17, 1890.

Application filed November 12, 1889. Serial No. 329,984. (No model.) Patented in Germany May 26, 1888, No. 47,367-

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EMIL LAEMERHIRT, a subject of the King of Prussia, residing at Berlin, in the German Empire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam-Heating Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to and embodies improvements in steam-heating apparatus, a patent for which was granted to me by the German Empire May 26, 1888, No. 47,367.

The object of my invention is to provide a steam-heater which shall be adapted to the use of gaseous fuel, and one which shall require but a comparatively small quantity of water to be heated, and also be readily controlled and economical in use.

It is also my object to provide an improved reservoir and pipe-service, and which, in connection with the boiler of a steam-h eating apparatus, will cause the water resulting from condensed steam to be again supplied to the boiler or generator and converted into steam.

It is also my object to provide a reservoir for steam-heaters which shall be automaticin operation for the supply of water to the boiler, and which in connection with its pipe-service shall also automatically act as a steamsafety exhaust.

It is also my object to provideasteam-heating apparatus which shall be automatic in action and perfectly safe in use without the service of an attendant.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in section, of my steam-heater. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of a reservoir for a saloon-heater hinged to the heater-base. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 0c 00 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail plan view of reservoir fixed in the heater-base. Figs. 5 to 20, inclusive, show modifications of my steamheater, as follows: Fig. 5 is a front elevation of a steam-heater with detachable reservoir. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the same, showing the reservoir as part of the heater-base. Fig. 7 is a detail plan view of the crown of the boiler and top of the heater-base. Fig. 8 is a detail plan view of the bottom of the boiler fitted in the heater-base, and Fig. 9 is a front elevation of water-receptacle. Fig. 10

supply pipe, and 2' "i the air-tuyeres.

Fig. 15 is a detail plan view of the bottom of the boiler. Fig. 16 is a cross-section taken on the line or o of Fig. 11. Fig. 17 is a crosssection taken on the line p q of Fig. 12. Fig. 18 is a cross-section taken on line n o of Fig. 11. Fig. 19 is a section of a valve for reservoir, and Fig. 20 shows a front elevation and vertical section of gas-burners.

The apparatus consists, mainly, of an upright heating-cylinder 13 into which steam is admitted and condensed, supported over a boiler A, heated by gas. A heater-base A contains the gas-burners, pipe-service, air-fines, and other features, and a reservoir K, which may be within or outside of the heater-base. The upright cylinder contains four air-pipes B (shown in Fig. 3) of largest possible diameter, open at top and bottom, and is supported upon four steam-pipes B B. These pipes detachably connect said cylinder with the boiler by connections B B. The cylinder is made and sealed steam-tight, the air circulating through the air-pipes, as shown in the drawings and indicated by arrows. The boiler A fits into the top of the heater-base and rests upon a flange b b. It is detachably connected to said base by the pipe d, and is provided with an opening in the crown to fill the same with water, said opening being large enough to admit of cleaning the boiler, and is provided with a cap 1. The boiler is also provided with a steam-cock n to relieve the pressure caused by filling the same with water, and it may also serve to dampen the air, when desired, by allowing the escape of steam into the apartment. As shown in the drawings, the pipe (Z opens into the boiler just at the normal watersurface a and acts as overflow, feed, steam cut-oif, and safety pipe, as hereinafter described. The bottom or fire surface of the boiler is concave, as shown in Fig. 1.

The heating apparatus is provided with gas-burners especially adapted for the purpose. f f is the principal burner, 0 the gas- The pipe L, with its extension Z, passes through the center of the burner ff. As shown in Fig. 1,the burner is a long cylindrical one, and the gas is therefore preparatively well heated. The center pipe L Z principally serves to convey the air directly to the flame, and may also serve as an auxiliary burner to heat the steamgenerator more quickly at the start, for which purpose the gas-tuyere 0 and the stopcock g are connected. In order to prevent the accumulation of dust and soot, I arrange the chambers p p 19 under each burner, as shown in Fig. 1. The air-tuyeres 't' i are composed of downwardly-projecting elbows to prevent the escape of gas and to avoid sudden drafts from deflecting the flow of the same. They also prevent the collection of dust. The castings forming the draft-passages for the flames in the heater-base are so constructed that the air is preparatively warmed, and the component parts are so connected that they may be readily taken apart. The air enters in the center of the base to the flame. The middle part, forming the entrance, contains, according to the size of the heater, two or more castings. These castings consist of the parts E and C. On the inner side of the castings 0 legs S are cast, on which rest the plates P P. The large disk-plate T carries the hot burned gases against the outer walls of the center piece, which cools them. They are then carried under the fire-bridge H and conveyed to the outlet-pipe R in the chimney.

R is a Water-sack to collect the sweat from the vapor-pipe, provided with a suitable valve R The inner walls of the heater may be coated with charmott to prevent sweating in firing up. The draft is regulated by means of valves Z in the outlet-pipe R. Regulating the heat of the gas-flame is accomplished by means of the cock h,provided with numerals. These figures may be arranged to indicatethe amount of gas consumed per hour.

The water-reservoir K, which communicates with the boiler by means of pipe d, can be located in the heater-base, as shown in Fig. 4, or outside thereof, as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 2 shows part of a saloon-heater base in which the reservoir is located on a projection of the heater-base and connected to the heater by connections 8. a is the overflowpipe, and s the outlet-pipe, provided with a screw-plug. The upper half of the fore part of the heater-base z is hinged, so that the reservoir, by means of connections 6 with pipe d, may be removed and replaced readily, and also that the amount of water in the reservoir may be ascertained.

Fig. 1 shows a reservoir separated from the heater-base. The pipe cl, which acts as overflow, feed, steam cut-off, and safety pipe to the boiler, enters the bottom of the reservoir, and, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, has a chamber 61, provided with air-holes m m, and also a downwardly-projecting branch pipe (1 with open mouth. The small openings m m are for the purpose of permitting the air which escapes in firing up to rise to the surface without descending through the branch pipe 61 The outlet-pipe 8 serves to empty the reservoir.

Filling my steam-heater with reservoir attached is done by pouring water through the opening 9" in the boiler until it flows over in the pipe (Z into the water-reservoir K and fills the same up to the level of the pipe u, or nearly so. The contents of the reservoir is intended to be sufficient for several months use. Filling up afterward is only necessary when the small openings m in pipe (1 are no longer submerged.

My steam-heater operates as follows: If the heater contains water and the gas be lighted,

the air will be forced through the pipe 01 out of the steam-space until the heater, according to the amount of fire, is filled with steam, which is indicated in the water-reservoir by small air-bubbles. Afterward, when the heat has become uniform, this ceases. The state of the water is automatically regulated in the boiler, for as soon as the gas is turned off or the heat is lessened for lack of gas-pressure in the pipes the water in the reservoir again enters the boiler through pipe (Z. By this means the normal condition of water in the boiler is regulated. It is evident that when the water is exhausted from the boiler, there being a lack of steam-pressure, the water flows in again fromthe reservoir.

Besides its other advantages it is evident that I attain by my construction of steamheating apparatus perfect safety, inasmuch as steam-generation can only take place when the mouth of pipe (I, which is in Water normally, is open. 1 Again, by means of the aircirculating pipes I attain a more uniform heat. Again, my construction of apparatus affords easy manipulation, not requiring an expert. More exact regulation of heat, cleanliness, great economy, and constant ventilation are incident to my apparatus. Moreover, as there is not a large excess of water in the boiler to be heated, steam is quickly generated.

Themodifications shown in the drawings byFigs. 5 to 20, both inclusive, give features of my invention adapted to the construction of smaller and cheaper grades of apparatus.

The heating-cylinders B B are shown in cross-section in Figs. 16,17, and 18, and the apparatus in vertical section in Figs. 11 and 12. Said cylinders are vertical sheet-iron cylinders, having one or more air-circulating pipes, which open at the top and at the bottom and side over the evaporating-surface, between which the steam remains inclosed. There is a cast-iron or sheet-iron base A, in which are contained the fire-box and the waterjacket for forming a Water seal for the heater, as shown in vertical section in Figs. 11 and 12 and in cross-section in Figs. 13 and 14.

The evaporating or fire surface V, a plan view of which is shown in Fig. 15, consists of a galvanized iron or copper plate, which is IIO secured between the steam-space and the base by means of an iron rim or flange and bolts, so that it may readily be renewed, if necessary, after years of use. The feed-water pipe d is joined at its prolongation to the rubber hose g and thereby connects the steam-space of the heater with the water-box 70, so that the steam-space is water-sealed. A rubber hose is used, so that the water-tank 7e may readily be removed for cleaning; but rigid connection might be used. The light suction and delivery valve shown in Fig. 19 is recommended, so as to render inaudible the sucking and blowing of air in the water-box it, due to the difference in the gas-heating.

The heating by gas is done by means of common Bunsen burners, as shown in Fig.

20. The mantel-tube f is placed at the proper height by adjustment. The bore of the burner is so adjusted that when the gas-cock is wholly open only so much steam is generated in the heater as can be received by it free of pressure and condensed byit without escape of steam at open pipe cl. The heating effect and the regulation of the maximum heat attainable, when the gas-burner is so regulated as to have no surplus of steam to escape through pipe d, is equal to that of a good radiator and greater, owing to the aircirculation tubes. The regulation from the maximum temperature to the minimum can be attained by means of the screw and indicator placed back of the open gas-cock. The escape-pipe R carries the burned gases to the chimney, but is first passed through the aircirculating pipes of the heater to assist in heating. The operation of this heater is substan tiall y the same. After the water is filled in and the gas lighted the air is forced out of the steam-space through the pipe (Z until steam is formed and can be heard in the water-seal tank It. As the heating becomes general the noise ceases. It is evident that the air driven from the steam-space may be led to the firespace and allowed to escape through pipe m.

In the heaters, which are provided with light double valves, and which are continuously used day and night, hardly any water is lost from the steam-space. In this case it is sufficient every eight to fourteen days to 'stop the working of the heater and burners for a few minutes to refill the water-tank 7t", so that the heater may suck in the water which is necessary for the evaporation, and which may have leaked away in the meantime. Absolute safety is obtained by this construction, as the waste of water, if any, need only take place at the pipe d, which opens into water, and a very light double valve, like a pot-lid, may be used to prevent this. The greatest carelessnessfor instance, low water-can only be produced by the cooling of the heater for any length of time.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A steam-heater having a boiler provided with a pipe opening in to the same above the evaporating surface or bottom thereof to about the same height as the surface of the water in its normal condition, said pipe communicating with a reservoir and serving antomatically as a suction, overflow, safety, and steam cut-off pipe, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a steam-heater, the boiler A, having the evaporating surface or bottom '0, the rim a b, the piped, opening into said boiler above the lowest point of said bottom, and a crown provided with pipes B B, said crown also forming a base for the upper part of the heater, substantially as shown and described.

3. In combination with a water-reservoir for steam-heaters, having overflow-pipe u, the pipe (I, communicating with the boiler, and the chamber 61 within the reservoir, provided with the air-opening m, substantially as shown and described.

4. The combination, with a steam-heating apparatus, of a reservoir (letachably connected to a projection of the heater-base, substantially as shown and described.

5. In combination with a steam-heating apparatus, the reservoir K, having an overflowpipe u, an outlet-pipe s, and a supply-pipe (Z leading therefrom, and a chamber d", located within the reservoir, having holes m, substantially as shown and described, for the purposes specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

EMIL LAEMERHIRT.

IVitnesses:

GEO. H. MURPHY, F. VON VERsnN. 

